annieb123
Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.
The Art of Murder is a new cozy mystery series starter by Fiona Walker. Released 20th May 2024 by Boldwood Books, it's 354 (e-format) pages and is available in hardcover, paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free. The second book in the series, The Poison Pen Letters, is also currently available on KU.
The author is prolific and dependably readable in the genre, and this one is happily no exception. There are already two books available in the series, making it a good choice for a binge/buddy read. It's a village mystery, full of quaint, quirky characters, a serviceable plot, and all the necessary working parts for an entertaining mystery.
There's perhaps a trifle too much witty reparteé, but overall it's a solid comfy cozy read. It leads directly into the next book in the series, so there's no waiting for the next installment.
Four stars. It's not derivative, but fans of Osman (Thursday Murder Club) and Laurien Berenson (Peg & Rose) will likely enjoy this one as well.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.